Rahim recalled for Tests

Mushfiqur Rahim confirmed his ability with some mature performances at the Under-19 World Cup © Getty Images

Bangladesh have recalled Mushfiqur Rahim, who recently captained the Under-19 side at the World Cup, for the Test series against Sri Lanka. Rahim made his Test debut against England, at Lord's, in May 2005 but had not been given another opportunity despite a promising start.

However, he impressed during the U-19 tournament both with his batting and leadership and is now fighting for a place in the middle order as a specialist batsman, with Khaled Mashud still the first-choice wicketkeeper.

A blow for Bangladesh is the absence of Mashrafe Mortaza, their leading pace bowler, who is being rested and misses the series. Syed Rasel, the left-arm seamer who showed promise during the one-day series, Tapash Baisya and Shahadat Hossain are the seam bowling options for Habibul Bashar.

Bangladesh put up a decent fight in the one-day series, pulling off a win in the second match, and will be aiming to put pressure on a Sri Lankan side that includes a number of inexperienced players. The first Test starts at Chittagong on February 28.

Bangladesh squad Habibul Bashar (capt), Shahriar Nafees, Javed Omar, Nafees Iqbal, Mohammad Ashraful, Alok Kapali, Rajin Saleh, Mushfiqur Rahim, Aftab Ahmed, Khaled Mashud (wk), Mohammad Rafique, Enamul Haque, Syed Rasel, Tapash Baisya, Shahadat Hossain.